Signs of Authoritarianism: Big Tech

On January 20, 2025, beside incumbent Donald J. Trump stood the billionaire tech leaders of the future. Bezos, Zuckerberg, and Musk. 287 days later, we are staring down the barrel of right-wing authoritarianism boosted by new technological capabilities. However, the U.S. has long used "innovation" to violate the civil liberties of everyday citizens. From the Patriot Act to Biden's virtual border, today's techno-fascism is merely a continuation of America's long history of surveillance.

Political commentators and experts on fascism all see the writing on the wall. The U.S has long been involved in using its private tech sector to further its imperial interests. Now, imperialism has turned inwards. Researchers from the Review of European Economic Policy put it best: "Military and intelligence apparatuses cannot do without Big Tech." The natural progression of military partnerships is the technology being used on American citizens. Perhaps the biggest example is surveillance technology, provided by Palantir, in towns hundreds of miles away from the U.S.-Mexico border.

While Trump keeps his Big Tech allies close, the actions of previous presidents have paved the path forward. For example, post 9/11 policy infringed on privacy rights. The New York Times reveals that surveillance exceeded national security needs, with the government collecting over 534 million phone records from ordinary people. In Obama's case, rampant drone strikes and the excuse of "metadata" brought surveillance further into the mainstream. For Biden, the digital border fueled by invasive surveillance technology built the backbone of Trump's largest deportation campaign in history.

The U.S is built on data. In fact, the entire world is. As the U.S further marginalizes and oppresses communities back home, it's crucial to recognize where it all started. The current administration's partnership with Big Tech would not exist without previous presidents pushing the envelope further. Authoritarianism develops as technology gets better, and the government becomes willing to apply the same technology against us, instead of for us.

— Samyak Duggirala